Saturday, November 13, 2010

A Muslim scholar (sheikh) was on a visit to China to give a series of lectures to the local Muslim community. One day, he was scheduled to give a lecture at a local hall and was about to take a taxi along with his companions to that location.

They got into the taxi and the Sheikh asked about the length of time it would take to get to the lecture hall. The taxi driver, through the interpreter, answered "Two hours."

The Sheikh immediately turned to his companions and said: "well, we can't sit in this taxi with the driver for two hours and not tell him about our religion. If we did that then we would be no different than any other non-Muslim or kaffir who uses this taxi. We are the people that Allah (SWT) chose to carry His message and honoured us to be Muslims. It is our duty to tell this person about Islam."
However, the driver was a native Chinese and didn't have a common language with the Sheikh. They had to communicate through an interpreter.

Sheikh to interpreter: "Ask the man if he believes in any religion?"
Driver: "No, I don't believe in religion. I just get up in the morning, go to work and earn money. At the end of the day, I collect my money, go buy some food and drink for my family. What do I need religion for?"
Sheikh: "Ask this man if he has ever heard anything about Islam."
Driver: "Not much. I've seen a tape once and showed Muslims as violent people. I don't know much else."
Sheikh: "Ask him about computers. What does he think of computer?"
Driver: "I think the computer is an excellent invention. It is very useful and very sophisticated."
Sheikh: "Does he think that the computer could have invented itself or does he think that a human being invented it?"
Driver: "A human invented it, of course. It is not capable of inventing itself."
Sheikh: "Which one is more complicated the computer or the human being?"
Driver: "The human being is more complicated, of course."
Sheikh: "O.K., if the computer must have been invented by a human being, then it follows that a human being (which is more complicated) must also have a creator."
Driver: "O.K."
Sheikh: "In Islam, we believe that Allah is the creator of human beings and all other beings. Fine, now let's move on. Assume that you have never seen a computer before and never heard of it. If I brought a computer to you and gave it to you. Would you know what to do with it? Would you be able to use to its full potential?"
Driver: "No, I wouldn't."
Sheikh: "Now, if I gave you a catalogue for the computer, then you will be able to better use it? Correct?"
Driver: "Correct!"
Sheikh: "In Islam, we view Quran as the catalogue used by human beings to manage their lives.

Without this catalogue, they will ruin themselves! Now, if this inventor of the computer assembled the machine and printed the catalogue, what would be the next step? He would need to train some engineers and others on how to spread the message about this machine. These people would, in turn, train others and others until everyone knows about the machine. In the example of Allah and Quran, the prophets of Allah play the role of the engineers. They learn the message and teach it to others so that the message will spread. Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the final messanger of Allah and he was ordered to take the message to all human beings."

By this time, the trip was coming to an end and they almost reached the lecture hall. But the Sheikh can see that there were tears coming out of the driver's eyes. The words of the Sheikh was having a significant effect on this driver.
Driver: "These ideas are very interesting to me. Do you mind spending 15 more minutes with me to tell me about this religion?"

The Sheikh agreed to spend those few minutes with this person and did. The man asked many questions and seemed genuine in his desire to learn more about this religion. At the end of these few minutes, the driver said: "I want to join this religion of yours. How do I do that?"

He was told that all he needs to do is say: "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad (saw) is his servant and messenger."

__._,_.___

"Invite all to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;
And consult with them in ways that are best and most gracious."
(Al Qur'an, 16:125)

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul

Al Quran -[40:39]"O my people! This life of the present is nothing but (temporary) convenience: It is the Hereafter that is the Home that will last

When you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other – a greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” (Qur’an, 24:61)

**** Qur'an 3:104: Let there arise amongst you a band of people inviting to all that is good and right, and forbidding the wrong. Such are the successful ones....

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Why do we read Quran, even if we can't understand a single Arabic word????

This is a beautiful story.

لماذا نقرأ القران, حتى لو لم نكن نفهم مفرداته العربية جيدا

An old American Muslim lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Quran. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Quran just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!"

Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an . You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out when you read time by time . That is the work of Allah in our lives...."